Three Norwegian media outlets reported on Thursday without identifying sources that Norway will become the third nation to give F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv to boost its Soviet-era air force.
Norway give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine: As Ukraine initiates an arduous counteroffensive against Russian forces in the east, the public remains unaware of both the aircraft quantity and the delivery date.
When contacted by AFP, the Norwegian military minister’s spokesman said she could “neither confirm nor deny” the accusations.
The reports surfaced after the surprise visit by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store to Kyiv on Thursday—Ukraine’s Independence Day—came to light.
Among the 57 F-16s that Norway is officially putting up for sale, US company Draken International is yet to receive 12, while Romania has already purchased 32.
If the reports from the television networks NRK and TV2, as well as the daily Aftenposten, are accurate, Norway would join Denmark and the Netherlands in providing F-16s to Ukraine.